Sunday, May 23, 2010

FlyfishMagazine.com's Western Correspondent, Ali Hassan and I spent a couple of days battling 30 MPH plus winds and tough conditions trying to catch some big Colorado reservoir trout. High winds and waves made the fishing tough but Ali managed to pick up a few nice trout using gear. I reverted to moving water in a canyon and got more than my share of fish mostly on dries. I wonder if people ever question why I always show up at business meetings tired, with wind/sunburn and a smile on my face?

Monday, May 17, 2010

And our favorite Southern Tailwaters just got a little bit more popular...

"I live in Maryland and asked a fellow asked me where he should go out west to go fly fishing last year," said Lefty Kreh, professional fly fisherman. "I told him not to go out west and said he should go to Tennessee. There's better fly fishing down there for trout than there is out west now."

A partner that owns half of the free world... George McKerrow Jr, President and co-founder of Ted's Montana Grill on fishing....

"It was around 1990 that I learned to fly fish, which changed my fishing forever. It was in Aspen, and we were fishing for rainbow and brown trout. From that point forward I knew that fly fishing would become the ultimate fishing experience for me. It’s just completely different. It’s quieter and more delicate. It’s harder. You see some of the loveliest places in the world from a fly fishing stream. Hiking out, standing waist-deep in water, it’s just so beautiful."

Monday, May 10, 2010

SYRIA, VA -- The Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Inc. 2-Fly Tournament (www.phw2fly.blogspot.com) is billed as a competition where those who catch the most feisty rainbow trout win trophies. Yet, SPC. Billy Herrell, who finished way back in the event was all smiles as he made his way around Rose River Farm (www.roseriverfarm.com) where the benefit was held May 2, to raise money to help soldiers and veterans injured during service to their country.

“I caught trout on the fly rod and I had a lot of fun. Who could ask for more?” said Herrell, who must get around with the aid of a walker due to severe back injuries he received while serving in Iraq. Herrell is stationed at the Warriors in Transition Unit at Fort Eustis.

Ed Nicholson, founder, president and chief executive officer for Project Healing Waters, said, “The tournament aspect of the 2-fly is really a pretense to get us all together to have fun and raise money to provide, fly fishing training and outings for even more service members recovering from wounds or injuries.”

If smiles and donations were the goal, the 2-fly was a tremendous success. Everyone who participated caught fish and the event raised more than $110,000, a new record for the 2-Fly, which is in its fourth year.

Thirty two-man teams participated in the fly fishing contest and 15 of those teams paired an active-duty service member or veteran with a more experienced fly angler. Ten teams with corporate sponsors competed in a Pro/Vet category and 20 teams competed in an open category.

The winners of the Pro/et category were:Army Specialist Caleb Huss, of Woodbridge, Va., and guide Eric Stroup, from Spruce Creek, Pa. Army Sergeant First Class Jose Ortiz, of Ft. Belvoir and guide Chris Murphy of Warrenton, Va. Marine Sergeant (ret.) Sean Locker, of Dahlgren, Va., and guide William Heresniak, of Manassas, Va. The largest fish award went to LCPL (ret.) John Gilroy of Salisbury, N.C.

In the open category only two trophies were awarded. The winners were: Jason Baker and Chris Smith, both of Charlotte, N.C. The largest fish award went to Garretson Carter of Alexandria, Va. The event was sponsored by The Orvis Company, Temple Fork Outfitters, Rose River Farm, Dominion, and numerous other companies that donated fishing gear, gift certificates and other items for a raffle.

Project Healing Waters Fly fishing, Inc. (www.projecthealingwaters.org) is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings. Project Healing Waters was founded in 2005 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and is a registered 501c3, non-profit organization. PHWFFI currently has 86 programs in 70 Veteran’s hospitals and 16 military facilities. The organization’s programs operate in 37 states, Canada and U.S. military facilities in Germany with the assistance of Trout Unlimited Chapters, the Federation of Fly Fishers and independent fly fishing clubs.

Thursday, May 06, 2010

RIO Products Releases the Ultimate Tournament LineCast further with RIO's new Gold Tournament Line

05.03.2010 – (Idaho Falls, ID) – RIO Products is thrilled to release the new RIO Gold Tournament Line designed specifically for long distance casting competitions. After two years of development and testing, the technical engineers at RIO created the ultimate long distance casting line.The RIO Gold Tournament Line features a long head of 75 feet (22.5 meters) with a graduated, rear-body taper that gives the line longer flight times and more distance than any other line currently on the market.

The ultra-thin running line (0.024” diameter) produces virtually no drag, allowing for ease of casting. Conforming to AFTMA and competition specifications, this line is legal for standard WF5 floating line distance competitions, and is built on a medium stiff, single-strand monofilament core of 15 lbs that ensures high line speed and great loop shape retention. “Now that casting competitions are becoming more popular, we decided it would be beneficial to design a line specifically for this use,” reports Simon Gawesworth, Marketing Manager and Line Designer for RIO. “The ease of casting this line is immediately apparent and will be the line of choice for competitors in WF5 floating line distance competitions.”

The RIO Gold Tournament Line is bright orange in color and available only in a WF5 size. It is 120 feet (37 meters) long and available from all authorized RIO dealers and distributors.

Wednesday, May 05, 2010

Many of you may or may not know that famous and talented writer / angling type, Pete McDonald of Fishing Jones, and equally famous and talented fishing photographer / publisher, Tosh Brown are collaborating on a book. The topic is the cult like salt water fly fishing scene in the Northeast. If the work in progress is any indication this will be one for both the coffee table and the tying bench. Check it out via Tosh Brown's Photoblog